CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Philippines—A police officer was killed while another one was wounded when elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (Cidu) tried to round up several suspected criminals here early
morning Saturday.

Chief Inspector Reynante Reyes, chief of the city police’s Cidu, said police were conducting “Oplan Kapkap” when they spotted four suspicious-looking men along Max Suniel St. in Barangay (village) Carmen.

He said the men ran when they saw the approaching police officers, triggering a chase.

Three of the men were initially arrested and were identified as Joven Egar, Marlon Tacbobo, and Rolando Gunayan.

Reyes said another suspect, who was later identified as Antonino Espaguera Jr., fired at Police Officers 1 Jessie Gacus and Charlie Patalinghug, who were riding in tandem on a motorcycle during the chase.

Gacus was severely hit and died while being rushed to a hospital. Patalinghug was slightly injured.

Espaguera, a convicted murderer who had served his sentence, was arrested moments later inside his house in Barangay Canitoan, according to Reyes.

He said the suspect had bragged about “getting even with the police” shortly before he was arrested by pursuing police officers.

Also recovered from his home was a .45 caliber pistol, which was thought to be the weapon used against Gacus and Patalinghug.

Reyes said a subsequent raid on Isla Delta here led to the arrest of another Espaguera cohort, who yielded a .38 revolver.

He said the police believed that the arrests of the suspects, who could be behind the series of criminality here such as robbery, were timely and that they thwarted their plans.